Clintonian Self-Promotion - Defense of His Presidency

Slick Willy is complaining about the impeachment thing again. (or is that still?) In his speech at Hofstra University he complains about the abuse of the constitution related to the impeachment. It wasn't an abuse, though it was a waste of time. There is a difference.

"One of the American historians I most admire, Mr. [Douglas] Brinkley, sitting out here, was quoted in the paper as saying that I would be viewed as a great president, except for the fact of impeachment," Clinton said. "I completely disagree with that," he said. Clinton gave a one-hour address late yesterday afternoon at Hofstra University, part of the school's presidential conference focusing on his eight years in office. "I think you can say you think I was not a great president [BINGO, give that man a cigar], never mind impeachment," Clinton said before nearly 5,000 people in the Hofstra Arena, who interrupted him often with applause and cheers. "Or you can agree with the statement [by Brinkley], but only if you think the impeachment was justified. Otherwise it [impeachment] was an egregious abuse of the Constitution and the law and history of this country, and I should get credit for standing up to it. "Now, if you want to hold it against me that I did something wrong, that's a fair deal," Clinton continued. "That has nothing to do with this impeachment. Then if you do that, then you have a whole lot of other questions: How many other presidents do you have to downgrade?"

Egregious abuse? I don't think so. Politically motivated action? No doubt in my mind. Credit for stand up to it? You had no choice, it was a trial brought against you, your only alternative was resignation. Willy's a sodding hero now because he wasn't found guilty! Congratulate him? Not likely.

Albright also spoke there. Here's what I call a bit of softening of the mistakes.

Albright said during the morning's opening session that the Clinton administration's foreign policy strategy was "neither overly idealistic nor narrowly cynical." She acknowledged mistakes, saying, "We acted too slowly in Bosnia, too inconsistently in Somalia and too late in Rwanda," the latter a regret Clinton mentioned as well. She said the administration was "determined to do the right thing, but in a pragmatic way. We defended human rights."

Oh, don't you just love that "neither overly idealistic no narrowly cynical" line? How could it be either when most policy decisions were based upon polling data?
Too slow in Bosnia? Yep, and then really ineffective in the aftermath.
Too inconsistent in Somalia? Yep, premature withdrawal when the going got tough ensured that the Moslem world would view the US as weak and continue the Vietnam syndrome view of the US. Ya think that had some effect on the 9/11 attacker's mentality or the insurgent's mind set in Iraq? You bet you back side it did.
Too late in Rwanda? Blessed Brighid, that is just revisionism. How about, not at all in Rwanda? Why even mention that?

Then the next cheerleader, Panetta:

Panetta, who served as Clinton's chief of staff from 1994-97, provided insight into Clinton the man. "In my view, President Clinton is one of the most complex individuals to ever occupy the Oval Office." Panetta called Clinton "extremely bright," charismatic, caring and volatile. "Because he wants to embrace so much of life, he often resists any constraints and discussion that might inhibit his ability to do those things," Panetta said.

Sounds like a eulogy. That statement lacks any real content, so there isn't really anything to comment on.

Personally, I'd give Clinton average marks as a president. His domestic policy was ok, but had many portions that removed state and personal rights that I found especially repugnant. His foreign policy was weak. Very weak. His inaction with regards to Iraq and the middle east did nothing to stave off known dangers which culminated in the present situation. He was complacent in a world that needed action to shield the US from a growing threat that he inherited. His inaction or poor reactions led the whole terrorist scenario further into the mess that he left for the next president to deal with.

Great president, not likely.